Arson attack on former dance studio

Police and fire officers are investigating a blaze which caused substantial damage to a former dance studio.

It is believed the fire was started deliberately by a group of teennagers seen in the area of The Dance Studio in Lodge Street, Lancaster yesterday afternoon.

PC Hannah Brew of Lancaster Police issued an appeal for witnesses, saying: “One witness has seen a group of around six youths aged between 14 to 16-years-old running from the area, but we currently have no CCTV to support this so do not know whether they were involved or not.

“There were, however, a lot of people in the area at the time who may have witnessed something.”

Three fire crews from Lancaster and Morecambe were called to the scene at around 3.30pm. The derelict building, which also once housed a music co-op, was badly damaged and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hosereel to extinguish it.

A fire brigade said it had been established that the blaze was started deliberately and police were called.